News Wrap: U.S. labor report stronger than expected with 216,000 jobs added in December

Amna Nawaz:

The U.S. economy has turned in another strong showing, despite higher interest rates.

The Labor Department reports employers added a net 216,000 jobs in December, more than analysts expected. The unemployment rate held at 3.7 percent. It's now been under 4 percent for 23 straight months. Those upbeat numbers contrast sharply with polls showing widespread public discontent with the economy.

Prices are on the rise again in Europe after seven months of declines. Inflation in the Eurozone rose to 2.9 percent in December. That is up from 2.4 percent in November, and it could prompt the European Central Bank to delay cutting interest rates.

In the Middle East, Israeli planes and tanks pounded refugee camps in Central Gaza overnight, sending more people fleeing south. And in Jordan, thousands of demonstrators rallied in Amman to show solidarity with Gaza. They demanded an end to Israel's offensive and its Western support. That came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Turkey on his latest trip to the region.

Security forces in Iran have arrested 11 suspects after suicide bombings claimed by the Islamic State group. Wednesday's attack killed 89 people in the city of Kerman. At a mass funeral today, mourners wept over the victim's coffins. The crowd chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America," and officials claimed both countries are linked to ISIS.

Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (through interpreter):

There is no trace of the Islamic State group on the world's political map. They have been hiding and can't be seen. They are holed up in their nests. You see no clear image of this power. They can only act as agents and mercenaries for U.S. and Zionist policies.

Amna Nawaz:

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi vowed to take revenge, but he said Tehran will decide when and where that happens.

Iraq is launching a process to shut down the U.S. coalition that's in the country fighting ISIS. That comes a day after an American airstrike in Baghdad killed a militia leader aligned with Iran. The Iraqi prime minister made today's announcement in Baghdad after he sharply criticized the airstrike.

Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani, Iraqi Minister of Human Rights (through interpreter): We affirm our firm and principled position in ending the existence of the international coalition after the justifications for its existence have ended. This is a commitment which the government will not back down from, and we will not neglect any matter that completes national sovereignty over land, sky and waters of our dear Iraq.

Amna Nawaz:

The announcement calls for a committee, including U.S. representatives, to begin making the arrangements. There are currently 2,500 American troops in Iraq.

The death toll in Japan has risen to 94 after earthquakes shook the country's west coast this week. But there was one moment of hope today amid the tragedy. An elderly woman was rescued after almost three days under the rubble. Teams are still searching for more than 200 people listed as missing.

Back in this country, a former Aurora, Colorado, policeman convicted of killing Elijah McClain was sentenced to 14 months in jail. Randy Roedema had been found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and assault. McClain died in 2019 after a struggle with Roedema and two other officers, and after being injected with an overdose of the sedative ketamine.

The number two Republican in the House, Steve Scalise, will have a stem cell transplant as he battles blood cancer. The Louisiana congressman's office said today it means he will not return to Washington until February. That makes the House Republicans' slim majority even slimmer, with pending decisions on Ukraine aid and government funding.

And, on Wall Street, stocks drifted into the weekend with modest gains. The Dow Jones industrial average added 25 points to close at 37466. The Nasdaq rose 13 points. The S&P 500 was up eight.